For a second year, Women's March draws thousands across Texas

Thousands gathered to participate in the Women's March in Austin, which began at City Hall and ended at the Texas Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018.
Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune

In cities across Texas, thousands marched on Saturday in support of women’s rights and to protest President Donald Trump one year after his inauguration.

Dallas and Austin saw particularly large turnouts as crowds gathered at similar events around the country.

In Dallas, local news media estimated the crowd to be larger than the one at last year’s event. In Austin, Wendy Davis, who unsuccessfully challenged Gov. Greg Abbott in the 2014 gubernatorial election, gave a speech at the Texas Capitol. Wearing a pink hat, Davis said women had been galvanized by Trump’s election. “The young high school and college change makers who have joined our efforts were here in the Capitol in the last legislative session exercising their voices,” she said, according to a video of the event.

Across the country, thousands turned out for similar demonstrations. Marchers carried signs in support of equal pay for women and in solidarity with the #MeToo movement against sexual violence.

Andrew White, another Democratic candidate for governor, also made an appearance.

I was proud to stand with 1000’s of women today as we marched in solidarity for women’s rights, in support of gender equality, and to demand political and social change. Let’s turn this momentum into action at the polls in March! #WomensMarch2018#DoRightTXpic.twitter.com/1zY9pmfq9x

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